Thursday, 23 June 2022

 Mr MEDDICK (Western Victoria) (12:13): My question is for the Minister for Racing in the other place. The death of three-year-old greyhound Ollie at Geelong over the weekend marks the 23rd dog to die in Victoria this year. Ollie collapsed and died at Geelong, Australia’s deadliest track, which has now claimed the lives of seven dogs in six months. The Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds records a greyhound death every 2.4 days. More than 27 dogs are injured in Australia every single day. The injury toll in Victoria alone is over 1400, and it is only June. What is worse is that these figures do not capture those killed in training because they did not make the cut or those considered wastage and killed due to overbreeding. Greyhounds are gentle and intelligent animals, and they are being treated as nothing more than commodities to create gambling profits, and it has to stop. Will the minister intervene to ban greyhound racing in Victoria?

 Ms PULFORD (Western Victoria—Minister for Employment, Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Resources) (12:14): I thank Mr Meddick for his question and his passionate advocacy for animal welfare that is absolutely consistent and a hallmark of what he brings to this place. As I think Mr Meddick well knows, there have been very significant reforms in animal welfare in the greyhound racing industry over many years now, and many of the issues that he referred to around so-called wastage and overbreeding and the like have been systematically tackled and responded to by this government. We are proud of the work that we have done in partnership with the greyhound racing industry to dramatically improve standards, albeit from a very challenging situation from both an animal welfare perspective and a greyhound racing industry perspective. I take the opportunity to extend my condolences to Ollie’s people and supporters. They are beautiful, beautiful creatures, and I know that Mr Meddick well knows that I am a slave to a couple at home, as are other members in this place and in the other place. But on your specific question about the industry, I will seek a written response from the Minister for Racing for you.

 Mr MEDDICK (Western Victoria) (12:16): Thank you, Minister, for that. By supplementary, as stated, injury is a growing concern in greyhound racing. In Traralgon a $6 million government-funded racetrack set to promote welfare and safety has injured 37 greyhounds since its rebuild at the start of the year. In just one day of January, 12 greyhounds were injured at a single race event. Will the minister acknowledge that there is no safe form of greyhound racing?

 Ms PULFORD (Western Victoria—Minister for Employment, Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Resources) (12:16): I thank Mr Meddick for his further question and specific questions of track design and the like and the relationship between these things and injuries. Again, we have made very significant changes to improve safety and standards and welfare through the entire life cycle of racing greyhounds and non-racing greyhounds, and we are really committed to continuing to support those reforms and the ongoing implementation of those newer, much higher standards. But, again, I will seek a response from the Minister for Racing for Mr Meddick.